7 - Broken

It had reached morning and already, Zukafu was up and making breakfast and when it came to Mary waking up, she seemed annoyed as she groaned irritated like a child but fortunately for her, it was already Sunday which meant she was free to lie down which she did with relief on her face. As she lied down on her bed, she shifted her eyes on Zukafu who appeared like his usual quiet self, and it reminded her of him breaking down and the story that Yoko told her.

She got up and said, "Hey Zukafu..."

Zukafu answered with "Yes?" in his monotone voice and with his back away from her.

She asked, "Say, I was wondering if you'd be..." but she began to blush and mumble as she wished to ask him to go on an actual date with her despite never properly dating anyone, but regardless, she bravely continued and said "... Interested in going out to the city with me...?" She lightly chuckled, which later turned to her feeling like she shouldn't have asked the question.

Zukafu answered, "Sure, why not..."

His response surprised Mary and sceptical, she asked "Really?"

"Yeah..." said Zukafu as he turned around with a plate of pancakes in his hands. He continues while he walks up to her, "It'll be nice to go out once in a couple of days, and I do need to pick up something from a shop." He sat down and then hands Mary the plate and says, "Eat up. I'll get ready." and saying that, he got up from the bed and entered the dressing room.

In the dressing room, Zukafu took his night clothes off and changed into his casual clothes and upon grabbing his buttoned shirt, a small chip like item fell from the pocket and onto the ground. Immediately, Zukafu bent down and picked it up, realising that it was the emotional exhibitor that he told Mary about.

Upon seeing it, he remembered the event during the hospital where he and Mary were leaving the hospital together after his recovery.

FLASHBACK

Mary and Zukafu exit the hospital with Mary looking down and as the two were making their way back home, Zukafu asked "Hey, are you okay?" as he was worried about her.

Mary answered, "To tell you the truth, no..."

"Why?" Zukafu asked.

Mary answered very bluntly but calm, "Isn't it obvious? I saw you get stabbed in the chest by some paranoid psychopath and... I don't know how to explain it but... It was like losing a part of me that was really crucial..."

Zukafu could understand the immense struggle that Mary was expressing from her words. She then concluded it by saying, "And what I feel to be... Most frustrating is US!" And saying this struck a nerve in Zukafu as he wanted to know what Mary wanted to say about this whole relationship. Mary continued "Every time I am with you, it's always have hidden in mystery or... It's just complicated!" She then took a sigh, "I wish I could know the real you for once..."

Saying that made Zukafu think about something as he firmly touched the emotion exhibitor that is on his spine.

AT ZUKAFU'S HOME

It had reached nighttime and Mary had already gone to sleep on Zukafu's bed while Zukafu continued to reside on the sofa but was still awake as he stared up into the ceiling. He got up and touched the emotion exhibitor device and tried to rip it off but began experiencing excruciating pain from his eyes as there were slight signs of blood swimming across his eyes.

Zukafu then headed to Yoko's clinic that was opening very early in the morning, and he sat down as he explained to her what he wants to do.

Yoko, sceptical, asked "Are you sure this is a good idea? What you are asking from me is extremely dangerous, and you are risking your own vision for this!"

Zukafu answered "I know that Yoko, but that's why I need your expertise. I've had to live with this device on me for years after what happened... But now, I think it's time that I stop hiding what I really am from others, especially Mary..."

Yoko appeared distressed by Zukafu's decision as it could cost him his life. She sighed and said "Very well... But know that this was your decision!"

Zukafu nodded and Yoko proceeded to perform a surgery. She gives Zukafu something to calm his mind while he had his jaw biting onto a metal pipe. Yoko then took a special scalpel like item which she used to cut into the device, causing some slight pain to Zukafu and after a couple of hours later, the removal was complete, leaving Zukafu's face shifting to appear the way that it is.

END OF FLASHBACK

Back in the present, Zukafu looks at the device and clenches it intensely before he hides it away. He finished getting ready and leaves the dressing room where he finds Mary already out and with an empty plate on the bed. Zukafu took a deep breath before exiting the house.

Outside, he already found Mary waiting for him with her prettiest dress and seeing him, she asks "So, shall we?"

Zukafu answers "Let's go." while trying to express a smile.

AT THE CITY

Together, Mary and Zukafu go around the city which was different from many of the cities outside the island with the volume of people hanging around the small centres and visiting the restaurants and arcades.

Mary and Zukafu went to the arcade where Zukafu was getting absolutely destroyed by Mary on the fighting games. They then headed off to a café where Mary scoffed herself on cakes while Zukafu was experiencing some ecstatic movements from his hands from drinking too much coffee. Their next stop led them to a small restaurant where the cook gave Mary a very spicy dish which caused her to blast fire onto Zukafu, causing to blush in embarrassment.

After a while, they stopped by some benches where they had a rest. Mary, happy about today, says to Zukafu, "Hey Zukafu, thanks for an amazing time... This might have been the best fun I have ever had since... Forever!"

Zukafu answered "I enjoyed it as well. I never really took the time to go out and have fun, thanks for suggesting this Mary."

As they were about to leave, Zukafu asked Mary "Hey, do you mind if I can go and get the thing that I told you that I was going to get? It won't take long."

Mary nodded her head and therefore, Zukafu got up and ran at Mach speed.